OF SELBORNE, 
205 
They bring out their young about the middle or latter 
end of July: but as these never become percbers, nor, that 
ever I could discern, are fed on the wing by their dams, the 
coming forth of the young is not so notorious as m the 
other species. 
On the 30th of last June I untiled the eaves of a house 
where many pairs build, and found in each nest only two 
squab, naked pulli : on the 8th of July I repeated the same 
inquiry, and found they had made very little progress to- 
wards a fledged state, but were still naked and helpless. 
From whence we may conclude that birds whose way of life 
keeps them perpetually on the wing, would not be able to 
quit their nest till the end of the month. Swallows and 
martins, that have numerous families, are continually feeding 
them every two or three mxinutes ; while swifts, that have 
but two young to maintain, are much at their leisure, and 
do not attend on their nests for hours together. 
Sometimes they pursue and strike at hawks that come in 
their way; but not with that vehemence and fury that 
swallows express on the same occasion. They are out all 
day long in wet days, feeding about, and disregarding still 
rain : from whence two things may be gathered ; first, that 
many insects abide high in the air, even in rain ; and next, 
that the feathers of these birds must be well preened to resist 
so much wet. Windy, and particularly windy weather with 
heavy showers, they dislike ; and on such days withdraw, 
and are scarce ever seen. 
There is a circumstance respecting the colour of swifts, 
which seems not to be unworthy our attention. When they 
arrive in the spring they are all over of a glossy, dark soot 
colour, except their chins, which are white ; but by being 
all day long in the sun and air, they become quite weather- 
beaten and bleached before they depart,^ and yet they return 
glossy again in the spring. Now, if they pursue the sun 
^ Yarrell has remarked, that our swift departs before its moult, and 
when its plumage is at the worst from wear and tear. Our summer 
visitors generally complete their moult before they leave us, but not tlie 
Hirundinidce. See also foot-note, p. 172. — Ed. 
